Clockcase



May 30, 1944. a. D. HEYMANN CLQCK CASE Filed Nov. 10, 1941 of the binder.

Patented May 30, 1944 .O FF

I 1, CI OCKC AJSEE;

- y I). Hermann, lfiiater'towh, Mass mun ,1 The WilliamL. Gilbertcl win sted', Conn, a corporation ofp nne ti p Appficmm Nmmber 1941; S fi iI-NBE 418,508

7 Claim 5 J This invention relates to a clock case to contain spring-driven clock movement. The case is more especially intended for movements such as are usually employed in inexpensive alarmlclocks and are characterized by comparatively loud ticking which is often found objectionable in the stillness of the night.

According to the present invention, an inexpensive, one-piece, sound-deadening case is provided, the case being molded in a single piece by the deposition of water-borne paper pulp flbers on the inside of a suitable hollow screen mold. The molding may be done with or without suitable sizings and/or fillers in the furnish. The molded case is dried and impregnated or coated with a suitable binder, preferably a substance which can be treated, as by heat and pressure, to give a smooth, hard surface finish. Other surface finishing materials such as varnishes or lacquers may be employed in addition to or instead The resulting clock case is light in weight, tough and strong, with marked sounddeadening properties, and can readily be given a highly ornamental finish.

For a more complete understanding of the in- I vention, reference may be had to.the following description thereof, and to the drawing of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clock case embodying the invention. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a slightly modified form of the same. I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The drawing illustrates in Figures 1 and 2 a one-piece clock case havin a rear wall III, a top 12, a bottom I4, side walls [6 and a front wall I8- in which is a large aperture of nearly rectangular shape (but which may be of circular or other outline, if desired) for the face of a clock mechanism to be mounted in the case. The clock case illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 may be of the same general shape as that shown in Figure 1 but is provided with a circular inwardly offset portion 22 in the rear wall, so that, when the clock mechanism is mounted in the case, the usual fingerpieces which are mounted on the ends of winding and setting shafts projecting through the apertures 24 in the rear wall of the case will be within the plane of the marginal portions 30 of the rear Wall.

The case can be given any desired shape and ornamentation within the practical limits of the 'molding means and procedure employed. The

case is molded by introducing a measured amount of an aqueous suspension of paper pulp fibers intoa suitably shaped mold, the mold being foraminous to permit the escape of water as the fibers are deposited against the inner surface of the mold. Any desired sizings, fillers or like may be included in the furnish. The fibza' are deposited within the mold in such a manner as to form fillets 32 along the lines of juncture between the various walls which meet each other at angles as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. This tends to reinforce the structure at those points where it is needed the most.

After the case has been molded by the depositing of wet paper pulp fibers, it is removed from the mold, dried, and treated with a stiffening agent, preferably one which can be given a smooth, hard surface finish. It the resultant fibrous shell does not already contain sufficient impregnating material received from the furnish, such material may be supplied in any suitable manner as by dipping the shell in an impregnat ing substance which is in liquid form. The impregnating material is preferably a solution of a synthetic resin compound which is capable of being polymerized by heat and pressure so as to form a stiff, hard, tough body which is capable of having a smooth or polished surface. Instead of a synthetic resin, other equivalent materials can be used such as waxes, rosin, casein derivatives or the like.

The impregnated shell is then subjected toa hot pressing operation which sets the lmpregnating material and also gives the shell a smooth fln ish and an accurate size and shape, uniformity of size and shape being desirable since the shells thus made are intended to receive clock mechanisms with a correct fit. I have discovered that clock cases made in this manner are remarkably efficient in sound-deadening, theirefiectiveness in this respect being greater than that of an treated molded fiber case.

If desired, a final finishing coat may be applied to the exterior of the case, as, for example, a su1table varnish or lacquer, so-called wrinkle lac-- quer of any desired color being suitable for this purpose.

It is evident that various modifications and changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention herein illustrated and described with out departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sound-deadening one-piece molded clock case of water-laid paper pulp fibers impregnated with a plastic compound, said case having a rear .r wall, top, bottom, sidewalls, and a r'ront'walwitn a large aperture fertile clookrace. v

2. A sound-deadening one-piece me am ne-pert pulp fiber clock case" exteri'oi'ly with a pressed synthetic resin, said-easehaving a rear wall, top. bottom side wills; ind a new wan with a large aperture tore cl'o'c ace;

pulp fiber clock case mpregnated 'witlri' asynthetic resin and exterlorlycoatedwitHa-finish ingmaterialr v M V 4. A sound-deadening on] agent and exterloily ooitd witfi wnnne'lacquer.

5. A one-piece molded'clook'caseof'witei'laid paper pulp fibers eixter'iorly serrated; with" a.-- I

pressed synthetic r'esin'and finished were casting or lacquer;

inter-felted paper pulp fibers, united together as anintegi'al one-piece structure, the front wall having an opening of smaller dimensions than the'area of the wall adapted to expose the face of: clock contained within'the case. said walls being free from folds and puckers.

ROY D. HEYMANN. 

